Bishop Carroll High School
Wichita, Kansas
Teacher: Angie Etheredge

My Different Communities
by Nicole Walden
9th grade

“I am a part of all that I have met,” said Alfred Tennyson. I feel community in every aspect of my environment. Community surrounds us. It is a vital part of our life and gives us a place to belong. We have an important role in all communities and they help us connect with people we normally would not associate with. We are surrounded by many different communities in every aspect of our life.

The biggest community we are a part of is the world community. Imagine this as the zoomed-out picture on Google Earth that shows the world from outer space. We all play a vital role in the world community. We help other nations by donating money for basic needs. We all aid our fellow nations in their time of need. The nations of our world have their wars, but this is just another aspect of community. A well-developed community cannot exist without having struggles and hardships. It only makes the community stronger. Although some people may think the world community is very loosely woven, I believe that it is not. We have several means, such as the Internet and email, to remain in contact with someone on the other side of the world. The world is a gigantic place, but I feel that everyone understands we are all connected in some way and part of something big.

The national community is the next biggest community we belong to. Imagine this as you type in the name of a country on Google Earth and watch as the satellite zooms in a little farther to settle on someone’s native country. Our national community is very important and we all play a vital role in it as well. It is easiest to see this community when our country has been involved in tragedy and hardship. For example, the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina brought the whole United States together to aid the people of New Orleans. They are part of our community, and we came to their aid when they most needed it. The destruction of the World Trade Center is also another excellent example of our national community rising up against a challenge.

Our local community is the next community I am involved with. For me, it is easiest for me to relate to this with our school system. They come together to compete against each other in state competitions. They also offer aid in times of trouble and challenge. With the death of Ryan Sageser, a fellow classmate, still fresh in many of our hearts we have received many condolences and prayers from surrounding schools. With the death of the two Mulvane, Kansas, students and other tragedies involving high schoolers, we have the opportunity to show our support for the other schools of our local community. We are all united as a community of Kansas high schools.

Another one of the important communities I am involved in is the community of my family. My family is extremely busy and as every American family we have our brawls, but we all know that we are there for each other. We always find time to be with each other if it just means to eat a family dinner or pray a family rosary. My older brother and I rarely see each other because we are too busy running ourselves ragged trying to keep up with sports and school and some degree of a social life. I know if I ever have something to ask about high school or an issue related to it that I should take it to him first so I can get an opinion from someone with my perspective. If I still have trouble with it I will take it to my parents who are also a very influential part of my family. The kids in my family all know that if the need comes we will cover for each other and do our best to keep each other out of trouble. To me, my extended family is just a larger nuclear family that is separated by time and distance. We still remain a closely-knit community and are there for each other. My ancestors are still a part of my family community because they were the start of it. They may be dead, but they are still remembered and are an influence in my family’s daily life.  My family is very important to me and a very large aspect of my life.

One of my favorite communities is that of my close friends. I have had the same three best friends since sixth grade. They are always there for me and I am extremely grateful for that. We tell each other anything and everything from what we had for lunch that day to what our dream was about last night. If something comes up in my life one of the three are always the first to know. We have our arguments, and we always play tricks on each other and make fun of each other, but we always laugh like it happened to someone else as we already begin planning our revenge. It is good to have a good group of friends that you know will always be there for you, and I am lucky to have that.

All communities are equally important, and there are many different communities. I feel most community with my basketball team. We are together so often and go through much. We are there for each other to congratulate one another and pick one another up. People in a community do not always get along, but they are always there for each other. Sometimes it is harder to see a connection and role in a community, but someone should always realize it’s there. In conclusion, I believe that “I am a part of all that I have met.”

Back